Tyrone Guthrie Centre
The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, often known as Annaghmakerrig, is a residential facility for creative artists. Located at Annaghmakerrig, Newbliss, County Monaghan, Ireland, it was founded in 1981. The house was the family home of theatrical director Sir Tyrone Guthrie, and he bequeathed it to the Irish nation in 1971, to be used as an artistic retreat. The centre is a residential workplace open to professional practitioners in all art forms. Creative residencies are for periods of two weeks to one month, depending on the time of year, and whether staying in the Big House or in one of the five self-catering cottages.
The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is grant-aided by The Arts Council of Ireland and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and is further supported by the Office of Public Works.
History
Tyrone Guthrie left, in his will:The gift of the house, in 1971, was accepted by the Irish government, and it opened to guests in 1981.
Facilities
The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is situated within a gated wooded estate.In the main residence, the "Big House", guests receive all meals. Each bedroom includes a writing or work desk and chair, and has its own selection of books and paintings, and a view. All bedrooms have en-suite shower rooms. Linen and towels are provided.
Up to eleven guests can stay in the five self-catering cottages.
Eight well-lit and heated studio spaces are also available, along with a music room, a mirrored dance studio that opened in 2006, and the Ulster Garden Village Performance Studio.
Approach
Residencies at the centre are by application only and are selective. Applicants must have some track record in their field. Once granted, residences are for two weeks for those seeking and accepted for the "Big House" and up to one month for those in the self-catering cottages.Once resident, guests are welcome to work as they wish. The only stipulation, as set out in the donor's will, is that all guests staying in the Big House must gather nightly for a communal dinner, generally held at 7 p.m., and nowadays in the kitchen of the Big House.
Notable guests
The centre has since hosted more than 5,000 retreats, with the list of Irish writers, composers and artists including such as Seamus Heaney, Brian Friel, Sebastian Barry, Anne Enright, John Banville, Colm Tóibín and Colum McCann as well as Maurice Craig, Michael Harding, Colette Bryce, Nuala Ní Chonchúir, Phil Coulter, Mary Dorcey, Brian Kennedy, Sam McAughtry, Nell McCafferty, Peter McCann, Roisin Meaney, Honor Molloy, Anne Rigney, and Derval Symes.International authors have also completed residencies at the centre, assisting them to complete or polish existing writing projects. These have included Australian authors Luke Davies and Linda Jaivin, British author Bella Pollen, and Canadian musician Loreena Mckennitt.